Bomb blasts in tourist towns rattle Thailand

A series of coordinated bomb explosions across Thailand has targeted tourist towns, leaving four dead and injuring more than 30 people, including foreigners.

In less than 24 hours, eleven bombs attacks were launched in Trang, Hua Hin, Surat Thani and Phuket. Among those injured are locals, as well as German, Italian, Dutch and Austrian nationals.

One was killed and six others were injured in the explosion at the Center Point shopping mall in Trang at 3pm on August 11.

Then, two explosions hit the Hua Hin town late at night on the same day, killing a Thai woman and injuring 21 Thai and foreign tourists.

At 8:02am on August 12, two explosions occurred in front of the marine police station and Mueang Surat Thani police station, killing one person and injuring many other. Nearly at the same time, one was injured in an explosion on Patong beach in Phuket. Police safely disposed another bomb at the Loma beach.

Then, at 9am, two more explosions reportedly occurred at the clock tower in Hua Hin.

Hua Hin is home to the summer palace of Thailand’s royal family and the blast came on the eve of Queen Sirikit’s 84th birthday, just before the first anniversary of a Bangkok shrine bombing that killed 20 and shortly after the referendum on Thailand’s new constitution.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha in a first reaction called for calm and said he did not know who was behind the attacks.

“The bombs are an attempt to create chaos and confusion,” he said in a conversation with reporters, adding that “we should not make people panic more.”

“Why the bombs occurred as our country is heading towards stability, a better economy and tourism – and who did it – you have to find out for me,” he said.

So far, no one has claimed responsibility fr the attacks.

Thai police said the bomb explosions were “acts of local sabotage and not terrorist in nature.”

“This is not a terrorist attack. It is just local sabotage that is restricted to limited areas and provinces,” national police deputy spokesman Piyapan Pingmuang told reporters in Bangkok.

Police officers across the country have been ordered to “step up security at significant government offices and symbolic places, especially the bus terminals, train stations, and airports, tourist spots, restaurants, and entertainment places where a lot of people are gathering”.

A series of coordinated bomb explosions across Thailand has targeted tourist towns, leaving four dead and injuring more than 30 people, including foreigners.

In less than 24 hours, eleven bombs attacks were launched in Trang, Hua Hin, Surat Thani and Phuket. Among those injured are locals, as well as German, Italian, Dutch and Austrian nationals.

One was killed and six others were injured in the explosion at the Center Point shopping mall in Trang at 3pm on August 11.

Then, two explosions hit the Hua Hin town late at night on the same day, killing a Thai woman and injuring 21 Thai and foreign tourists.

At 8:02am on August 12, two explosions occurred in front of the marine police station and Mueang Surat Thani police station, killing one person and injuring many other. Nearly at the same time, one was injured in an explosion on Patong beach in Phuket. Police safely disposed another bomb at the Loma beach.

Then, at 9am, two more explosions reportedly occurred at the clock tower in Hua Hin.

Hua Hin is home to the summer palace of Thailand’s royal family and the blast came on the eve of Queen Sirikit’s 84th birthday, just before the first anniversary of a Bangkok shrine bombing that killed 20 and shortly after the referendum on Thailand’s new constitution.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha in a first reaction called for calm and said he did not know who was behind the attacks.

“The bombs are an attempt to create chaos and confusion,” he said in a conversation with reporters, adding that “we should not make people panic more.”

“Why the bombs occurred as our country is heading towards stability, a better economy and tourism – and who did it – you have to find out for me,” he said.

So far, no one has claimed responsibility fr the attacks.

Thai police said the bomb explosions were “acts of local sabotage and not terrorist in nature.”

“This is not a terrorist attack. It is just local sabotage that is restricted to limited areas and provinces,” national police deputy spokesman Piyapan Pingmuang told reporters in Bangkok.

Police officers across the country have been ordered to “step up security at significant government offices and symbolic places, especially the bus terminals, train stations, and airports, tourist spots, restaurants, and entertainment places where a lot of people are gathering”.